TEXAS REPUBLICANS ON VERGE OF PASSING ABORTION LAW

Democrats might launch filibuster to block restrictions

The Republican-dominated Texas Legislature pushed Monday to enact wide-ranging restrictions that would effectively shut down women’s health care clinics that provide abortion services across the nation’s second most-populous state, and Democrats planned an old-fashioned marathon filibuster to stop the final vote.

After the House easily approved it Monday morning, the wide-ranging package of anti-abortion measures was headed to the Senate. But with the special session scheduled to end at 11:59 p.m. today, the clock presented a far bigger obstacle than the votes to win approval there.

Although Texas is just the latest of several conservative states to try to enact tough limits on abortions, the scope of its effort is notable both because of the combination of bills being considered and the size of the state. The proposal would ban abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, limit abortions to surgical centers and stipulates doctors must monitor even nonsurgical abortions.

In a state of 26 million people, the measures become the most stringent set of laws to impact the largest number of people in the nation.

“If this passes, abortion would be virtually banned in the state of Texas, and many women could be forced to resort to dangerous and unsafe measures,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and daughter of the late former Texas Gov. Ann Richards.

Supporters, though, insist it will only raise the standard of health care for women seeking an abortion. Gov. Rick Perry added abortion to the special session’s agenda and has promised to sign the bill if it reaches his desk.

The only way Democrats could block a vote when it goes to the Senate is if one senator filibusters it by running out the clock on the special session. Under the rules, the senator would have to speak nonstop, remain standing, restrain from bathroom breaks or even lean on anything.

Normally the Senate doesn’t get a bill until 24 hours after House passage, which would set the Senate debate for this morning, effectively requiring a filibuster to last 13½ hours.

Republicans tried but failed to force an earlier vote and a longer filibuster.

The first requirement of the bill is for all abortions to take place in surgical centers, facilities designed to cope with major surgeries that could lead to life-threatening complications. The majority of abortions are not surgical procedures, and 37 of the state’s 42 abortion clinics don’t meet that new standard, so many would need to relocate and spend millions of dollars to reach it.

Women who may currently take abortion-inducing pills at home would also be required to take those medications in front of the doctor by making visits to the surgical center under the bill.